Events

Early Deadline: February 15th, Final Registration: March 24th
In the two free virtual programs, your students will learn the computer science skills they need to make an impact, meet inspiring professionals across diverse industries, and tap into lifelong college and career support to help them succeed in their first interviews and jobs. All high school girls and non-binary students are welcome to apply!

Rolling submissions until midnight March 23, 2023
A Rube Goldberg Machine® is made from found or discarded household items. These contraptions come from landfill, rather than contributing to it and are essentially green machines! The Institute is proud to offer the only STEM competition in the world that requires zero cost to build and participate. Anyone, anywhere, with nothing more than a pile of junk and a great imagination can build an award-winning Rube Goldberg Machine®.
- All ages, free
- Compete as an individual or a team
- Machines can be any size, small or large
- All Machines must complete the task
- Judged by a RGI panel of experts
- Prizes include Visa gift cards, Rube swag, trophies and showcased in social media

Application Deadline March 24, 2023
Building Excellence in Science and Technology (BEST Early) and the Benton Spirit Community Newspaper are partnering with the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy’s Office of the Environmental Justice Public Advocate and Honor Credit Union to promote environmental education and awareness through the Environmental Fridays Public Science Announcement (PSA) Video Contest.

2022-23 Details Coming soon!
The Rube Goldberg Institute has partnered with NASEF to present the Rube Goldberg Big Build Challenge® in Minecraft. This free International competition invites students to imagine, design and build whimsical chain reaction machines in the digital world of Minecraft.
- Grades 3–12
- Requires Minecraft Education Edition
- Free for all teams
- Judged by teams from NASEF and the Rube Goldberg Institute
- Prizes include Amazon gift cards, certificates, and showcased on social media

Rolling submissions are accepted through April 20, 2023.
This is where it all started for Rube! He was a cartoonist first and he was the founding father of the National Cartoon Society. The top submissions for this contest will be announced on our website and at the Reuben Awards, the highest honor for a cartoonist and named after Rube.
- All ages, free
- 2 divisions: 16 & under and 17 & over
- Invention cartoons will be selected for the web gallery show
- Judged by the RGI team and members of the NCS
- Prizes include Visa gift cards, a framed Rube Goldberg print & more!

May 11, 2023
This will be an interactive, virtual for 9th grade students. This career exploration event is a hands on interactive event. If you are interested in being involved, join us at the Kickoff Meeting where you may register to volunteer, become an exhibitor, and sign up your students. Click here to learn more.

May 18, 2023
Northwest Education Services, REMC 2 Central, and the Northwestern Lower MiSTEM Network have partnered to host the STEM Symposium (formerly the Mathematics, Engineering, and Science Symposium) for K-12 students throughout the 5-county region. We invite all students to participate in a night celebrating their learning by showcasing their projects, participating in friendly competitions, and speaking with community partners through project presentations about STEM that has impacted their lives. Click here to learn more.

December 6-12, 2021
The Hour of Code is a global movement to introduce coding to kids; it is held annually during the first week of December. We know computer science (CS) jobs are high-paying, high-demand careers. What we don’t always talk about though, is how CS and technology, in general, can make the world better. Though the live event is over, the resources we’ve created are evergreen and ready for educators to use today. Click here to learn more.

Postponed to 2023
This wonderful job shadow event has been postponed until Spring of 2022 due to COVID-19. If you are interested in being involved please reach out to Drea Weiner or Shelly VanderMeulen.